Overview

This tour of Languedoc Roussillon takes in France’s most impressive sights. Based in the stylish city of Montpellier, you will be free to explore the magnificent medieval centre, its shady boulevards and elegant squares lined with vibrant bars and restaurants. Don’t miss the wonderful art at Musée Fabre and then take a day tour to Pézenas, a lively market town with grand mansions, pretty courtyards and a 13th-century university. Nearby is the lively fishing port of Sète, where you can enjoy fresh seafood along the Royal Canal.

Visit Carcassonne with its famous citadel, a dramatic fortress with picturesque turrets standing guard over the city. The charming medieval centre of Narbonne on the Canal du Midi offers the 13th-century Cathédrale Saint-Just et Saint-Pasteur and Archbishop’s Palace. Step back in time at the beautiful village of Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert with its honey-coloured houses and 12th-century Abbaye de Gelone nestling in a pretty ravine. A highlight of the region is the impressive Millau Viaduct, a masterpiece of modern architecture. Visit Nîmes with its Roman arena, and the wonderfully preserved city of Aigues-Mortes. The stunningly beautiful Camargue wetlands are famous for their black bulls, white horses and pink flamingos.

Holiday highlights

Cathar history - the citadel of Carcassonne is breath-taking

Explore characterful seaside towns

Modern architecture - the Millau Viaduct is a wonder

Old world atmosphere - wandering the streets of Saint-Guilhem is a step into the past

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06-09-2018

6nights

from
£899pp

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30-05-2019

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* To see what is included in the price, see what's included below. ** Calls to 03 numbers cost no more than calls to geographic numbers (01 or 02) and are included in inclusive minutes and discount schemes in the same way.

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What's included

Six nights' accommodation in standard room on bed and buffet breakfast basis at the four-star Oceania Montpellier Hotel based on shared occupancy of twin room

Full coach touring as detailed in the itinerary conducted by tour manager

Tour manager throughout

Accommodation

Oceania Montpellier Hotel

The recently renovated traditional four-star Oceania Hotel is located in the centre of Montpellier, dating from 1898, is just a five minutes’ walk from the main square. Hotel facilities include a bar, restaurant, garden and swimming pool. Rooms have air-conditioning, private bathroom, tea and coffee making facilities, minibar, safe and television.

Pre-tour accommodation is available at the Premier Travel Inn, London Kings Cross St Pancras, about a five minutes walk from St Pancras International, at an approximate rate of £120 per room. Bookings can be made direct with the hotel on 0871 527 8672 or visit their website.

Itinerary

Day 1

Travel by Eurostar from St Pancras or Ebbsfleet to Paris and onwards to Montpellier by TGV. On arrival, transfer by foot to the hotel.

Day 2

Capital of the Languedoc region, Montpellier is a dynamic, lively city, renowned for its cultural life and many students which matriculate at its 13th century university.

Pézenas is a charming little market town, full of lovely old mansions and quaint courtyards – perfect for an afternoon stroll. Sète is France’s largest fishing port and a lively seaside resort. With a strong cultural identity of its own, which includes a fine cuisine, eating in a restaurant along the royal canal is a must.

Day 3

The Cité de Carcassonne is a dramatic sight, a walled fortress crowned with fairy tale turrets perched above the River Aude. The walled city, some parts of which date back to the 5th century was extensively restored in 1853.

A major city during Roman times Narbonne’s delightful, restored, medieval centre is the where you’ll find the majority of its sites. These include the impressive 13th century Cathédrale Saint-Just et Saint-Pasteur and the Archbishop’s Palace.

Day 4

Our hotel is located just off the main square, Place de la Comédie, which leads into the atmospheric historic centre. This area is filled with lovely squares, grand 17th and 18th century mansions and plenty of restaurants.

You are also just a short walk from Montpellier’s cathedral, the Sun King’s triumphal arch and the Promenade Peyrou. A visit to the Musée Fabre, said to be the best gallery in southern France is a must.

Day 5

Sitting pretty in a ravine off the Hérault River, Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert is a breath-taking village of old honey-coloured, tiled houses gathered around the 12th-century Abbaye de Gelone.

Hailed as an engineering masterpiece of the 21st century, the Lord Norman Fosterdesigned Millau Viaduct stretches 1.5 miles over the Tarn River valley, a ‘sculpture in the landscape’.

Day 6

Nîmes is home to some of Europe’s most extensive Roman ruins, including a 1st century Roman arena. The wonderfully preserved walled city of Aigues-Mortes (Place of Dead Waters) is approached across the salt marshes of the Petit Camargue.

It was from here, before the city became marooned three miles from the sea, that Louis IX twice departed for the Crusades. An area of outstanding natural beauty, the Camargue is a nature-lover’s paradise, famed for its flamingos and white horses.

Day 7

Transfer by foot back to Montpellier station to catch the return TGV to Lille. At Lille, board the return Eurostar service to St Pancras or Ebbsfleet.

More information

PASSPORTS Valid passport required by all, except:

(a) EU nationals holding valid national identification cards;

(b) Holders of national identification cards issued to nationals of Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino and Switzerland.

VISAS Are not required by EU citizens. All other nationalities should enquire at the French consulate (PO Box 57, 6A Cromwell Place, London SW7 2EW

TRAIN As with most trains, passengers are responsible for carrying baggage onto and off the train. Baggage can be stored on overhead shelves or at the entrance to the carriages. Trollies are available at St Pancras and Lille, but bags do need to be carried on to the platform. Porters are sometimes but not always available at St Pancras. The Eurostar and French trains are very long (18 carriages in the case of Eurostar and nearly 400 metres long) so there can be quite lengthy walks from the station entrance to your seat. On all legs of the journey you have reserved seat and carriage numbers which are shown clearly on your ticket.

LUGGAGE TO YOUR HOTEL Travel Editions recommends a luggage delivery service called thebaggageman, where your suitcase can be picked up from your home before departure and delivered straight to your hotel; therefore removing the worry about carrying your cases onto and off the trains. Please click here for more information and we have arranged a 10% discount exclusive to Travel Editions clients off the thebaggageman service. Tel: 01844 264890

HEALTH & INSURANCE – EHIC CARD Please note that EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) only allows access to the same state-provided healthcare as a resident of the EU country they are temporarily visiting. It is NOT an alternative to travel insurance and will not provide the same level of cover as a travel insurance policy.

The EHIC will not cover any private medical healthcare or the cost of things such as repatriation to the UK or lost or stolen property. It is also important to note that each country’s healthcare system is slightly different, so the EHIC might not cover everything that would be generally free on the NHS. On the EHIC application website, there is a section called Access to Healthcare Abroad which clarifies all the conditions and inclusions. We strongly recommend that you take out an appropriate travel insurance policy when you travel abroad.

DOMESTIC RAIL TICKETS Once you have received your Eurostar ticket from us (approx. 10 days in advance of travel) you can use this to purchase return domestic travel from your area. The prices are particularly competitive on Chiltern, South West, Southern and First Capital Connect services. These tickets are referred to as London International (CIV) tickets and you can either try to purchase them at your local station or call 01233 617913 Monday to Friday 9-5pm to speak to the Eurostar travel office. If you choose to phone you must leave at least 7 working days before your tour date, as the tickets are posted to you.

The greatest advantage of these CIV tickets, purchased in advance, is that they are covered by International Conditions of Carriage. So if your UK train is late, then Eurostar are obliged to put you on the next available train if you missed your original departure. The same applies on your return to London and the Eurostar is delayed, the the UK train operator is obliged to honour your UK ticket on the next available train. If you decide to purchase these from your local station the ticket staff are not always 100% familiar with these tickets so be prepared to be polite but firm!

Please note that you must travel using these CIV tickets within 24 hours of departure of your outbound or return Eurostar ticket and so you are not valid if you plan to extend your stay in London pre or post tour beyond this period.

Gallery

Tour provided by Travel Editions

For the last 20 years, Travel Editions has been bringing Telegraph readers exclusive short breaks and extended tours that focus on the traveller rather than the tourist. Whether you would like a guided tour of Brunel’s historic SS Great Britain or would prefer to visit Provence via Eurostar and TGV, Travel Editions offer the benefits of group travel but treat every customer as an individual. This philosophy has allowed them to perfect all kinds of holiday, from breaks in the Mediterranean to historic trips to Croatia and central Europe, and from beach holidays in Greece to fabulous rail journeys throughout France and Germany. This holiday is provided by, and your resulting contract and booking conditions will be with, Travel Editions Group Ltd, 3 Young’s Buildings, London, EC1V 9DB, (Registered in England No. 02926062), ABTA V3120, ATOL 3525, a company wholly independent of Telegraph Media Group Limited.